Politics on the Hudson

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The New York State United Teachers union is up with a radio ad across the state knocking Gov. David Paterson for his proposed mid-year cuts to education, saying the cuts would hit schools in the middle of their year and cause “chaos” at schools and colleges.

With storm sounds and music in the background, the ad calls on the Legislature to reject Paterson’s cuts, which includes $686 million to schools over their fiscal year. “Governor Paterson’s deep budget cuts could bring on a devastating storm that rips apart public education,” the ad states.

Paterson, meanwhile, was a guest host on CNBC’s Squawk Box this morning and talked again about the need to curb state spending, saying the state faces not only a deficit, but a cash flow problem that could reach $2 billion to $3 billion by December.

“It’s a seminal moment in New York,” he said. “If we balance this budget and make the hard decisions that we have to make, if we recognize that we have spent more than we have and you just can’t spend money you don’t have, then we’ll be alright.”

Above is the full ad and here’s Paterson’s clip on the state’s economy.